A young British girl is feared to have been abducted while on a family holiday here in Trinidad and Tobago more than two weeks ago.
Delika White Lezama, 13, from Greenford, London, disappeared while accompanying her mum and brother on the trip to Trinidad to visit her grandmother.
She was last seen on a back road after visiting a corner shop near her grandma’s house in the town of Sangre Grande at around 4pm on December 17.
Her family frantically began searching for her after realising she hadn’t come home 10 minutes later, but were unable to find any trace of the teenager.
Officers from the local police force’s anti-kidnapping unit are spearheading the hunt for the missing teen, whose family are being supported by the UK Foreign Office.
The teenager’s distraught family has also made repeated appeals to find her via social media, saying they are “beyond desperate”.
Delika’s mum, Delia White, told the Mirror: “She didn’t seem upset or angry when she left – there was nothing that would have made her run away.
“I can’t think of anyone who could abduct her in particular, but everyone knows us, the whole community knows us, and that I come and go from the UK to see my mum all the time.
“My seven-year-old son is here as well, and I’m just trying to stay strong for him. At the moment I don’t have the energy even just to say how I’m feeling.”
Delia said the family began a frantic search when her daughter failed to return home. She went on: “We looked everywhere. A few people said the cameras weren’t working in the area. It gets dark at around 5.30pm.
“I started to get worried as she doesn’t know the area, she doesn’t really speak the language, so I’m thinking anyone could have seen her or any driver could have picked her up.
“I don’t know if she went somewhere and got lost. Then when it got dark I went to the police station to make a report, then they started driving around and looking for her as well. We looked all through the night.”
Delia explained her daughter had gone to the shop to buy a SIM card because she’d been having trouble with her phone during the holiday. The shopkeeper confirmed she had called at the store but had been unable to find the card she was after and had left.
Since her disappearance, the family have sent several messages to Delika’s phone which have been delivered, but appear not to have been read.
Her mum said: “The police told me they have some camera footage from the area that she walked, and they’re still waiting for footage of people around the area as well.
“The police have searched people’s houses, but we haven’t found her. They’ve searched the rivers and the bushes to see if she’s in the area.”
A search and rescue team assisting police has been working tirelessly to track down her whereabouts, and told the Mirror that the case is being investigated by the force’s anti-kidnapping unit.
Vallence Rambharat, Captain of Hunters Search and Rescue Team, said: “We can confirm that Delika White Lezama is still missing.
“We can also confirm that investigations are continuing by the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
“In this particular case, there is information sharing between the Unit and our Team as well as coordinated joint searches being executed.”
Delika’s aunt Melanie Moore, who is based in New York, told the Mirror that she has taken the last week off work to try and help the search efforts.
She said: “Her mum is just trying to find her. She doesn’t even know where to begin to look, but she’s looking everywhere she can. She’s upset, she’s crying.
“We’re all sending out messages to Delika’s phone just hoping she’ll respond. We’ve been calling her and sending messages and they’re being delivered to her device, but it’s not showing us that she’s been able to read anything.
“I started messaging her at 12am the day she went missing, leaving voice messages saying ‘it’s midnight now, now’s a good time to come home’.
“I don’t think she goes that many places – my sister is very protective over her children anyway, especially on vacation, usually we do something together. It’s not like she goes out and does many things on her own.
“I’m just praying for her safe return. A lot of time has passed in between, which is not a great thing for anybody.
“At this point I’m hoping that she’s run away and will come back before her plane ticket runs out. That’s the best case scenario. Otherwise it’s not going to be good.”
Delika’s older sister has shared numerous pictures of her sibling via social media – some showing her wearing glasses and others without – in a bid to help people recognise her.
Three days ago, she wrote: “There are a few different looks she could have right now but we aren’t sure so if you see her or think you’ve seen her call the police. Please.
“Been just over 2 weeks and she’s still missing. Has anyone seen or know of her whereabouts?
“If you would like to remain anonymous that’s definitely an option. Family, friends and police will follow any and every lead at this moment in time.
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